REF 2021 Impact Case Studies

This study shows how the Secretary of State's decision to block the proposed merger between 21st Century Fox and Sky on plurality grounds was rooted in evidence produced by Schlosberg.

The Fallen Woman educated and empowered visitors and drew attention to present day inequalities in the treatment of women in terms of class, race and sexuality.

This study looks at the re-discovery of lost films by Robert Paul, Britain’s most important early film pioneer and an important part of the country’s national heritage.

‘abYsis’ allows investigators to analyse the features of novel antibodies, and has resulted in over 200 patent applications.

Institute of Zoology and University College London developed a suite of science-based metrics, now influential tools for biodiversity assessment and leading indicators of the conservation status of the world's species.

The CATH classification of protein domains has informed policy on the host range of SARS-CoV2, and led to significant efficiencies in drug discovery.

Institute of Zoology (IoZ) scientists have been working to respond to the infectious diseases responsible for the global amphibian decline.

This research has helped develop an approach for valuing ecosystem services and accounting for natural capital.

The Institute of Zoology (IoZ) has identified best practice methods for the management of conservation translocation programmes.

This study looks at conservation best practice and the development of tools to evaluate air corrosivity and methods to detect early signs of damage on organic-based heritage objects.

This piece of research investigates links between arts, cultural and other community assets and the wellbeing of the communities who visit and use them.

Research by Professors Sarah Durant and Rosie Woodroffe influenced conservation action plans for cheetahs and African wild dogs.

Professor Nick Lane's book 'The Vital Question' is based on his pioneering research on energy flow in evolution, stretching from the origin of life to the diseases of old age.

This piece of research has improved the understanding of how ecological, epidemiological and socioeconomic factors interact to drive spill-overs of ‘zoonotic’ diseases into humans.

This study focuses on knowledge co-creation between businesses and universities, and has been a catalyst for major policy reform in the UK and EU.

FIFPRO launched the Don’t Fix It project in 2012 in cooperation with Birkbeck, the EU and UEFA in a bid to prevent match fixing.

This study investigates alternative model of task-based assessment centres for measuring the skills and potential of job applicants.

John Kelly's mobilization theory offers an account of the conditions under which individual employees collectivise in response to problems at work.

This programme of research led by Dr Richard Tacon and Dr Geoff Walters worked to understand and improve board-level governance in UK sport organisations and improve diversity and inclusion on boards.

Birkbeck researchers worked with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to create software to predict ambulance response times with 80% greater accuracy.

Research into federated entity identification systems led to the development of Recommendation ITU-T Y.4805, a worldwide standard for global information infrastructure.

Virtual Knowledge Graphs facilitate information extraction without relying on IT specialists, opening up data repositories to data analytics.

UCL–Birkbeck research has improved understanding and management of the impacts of mining and natural processes on water quality in Bolivia.

This study looks at the source, transport and fate of arsenic in sediments exploited for water supply in the Bengal Basin.

Professor Oelkers’ team developed a cost effective and environmentally safe carbon capture and storage method through the mineralisation of basaltic rocks.

This study offers new insight into the implications of an ageing population for OECD economies, in particular the relationship between aging, innovation and economic slowdown.

Beckert’s research into patient choice has significantly impacted the practice of the assessment of mergers of NHS-funded healthcare services.

David Schröder’s research has directly influenced the commercial practice of investment and portfolio managers.

Anthony Bale's research explores Christian ideas about Jews and Judaism.

Caroline Edwards and Martin Eve focus on the principle that outputs of publicly funded research should be widely and freely accessible.

Colin Teevan is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright with an ongoing research interest in how to portray the experience of war from the ground-up.

This research project is underpinned by Dr Gideon’s research considering the health and wellbeing of Chilean exiles in the UK.

The Environment Agency has used Professor Brooks' digitised cliff analysis methodology to effectively manage shoreline retreat.

Professor Cook’s research focuses on the significance of locality in understanding LGBT+ identities and community formations.

Professor Pick's 'The Hidden Persuaders' has influenced and inspired Dr Lizzie Burns’ Anti-Boredom Campaign.

This study explored the essential features of the Crown Court process, as experienced by court users, and the interplay between the different players in the courtroom.

Professor Hough's research has informed both the police Code of Ethics and College of Policing leadership review.

The World Prison Research Programme gathers, analyses and publishes the best available data on prison populations.

This case study describes how training practices for interpreters and psychotherapists working in the NHS, private therapy and the voluntary sector have improved.

Professor Smith’s research focuses on how we perceive flavours, and made a significant, distinctively philosophical intervention into debate about the objectivity of taste.

Dr Rashed's evidence to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act influenced its outcome by emphasising the importance of cultural competence and bias.

This study, which focuses on parents in parliaments, has influenced the way in which parliaments formally and informally organise and function.

Ben Worthy has had an impact on the effective implementation of Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation by providing robust systematic evidence on how FOI works in practice.

Professor Melhuish's research focuses on the critical role of early experiences for educational outcomes.

Dr Tasker’s research on LGBT-parented families shows that children’s wellbeing and development are not negatively affected by their parents’ sexuality

IPA is a qualitative methodology for describing and understanding how individuals make sense of their personal experience.

Professor Brook-Gordon’s research had a wide impact on major national and international initiatives to change law and policies around trafficking and decriminalisation of sex work.

Professor Callender’s research raised awareness and understanding within government and beyond about the need for further reforms.